Sun dial device



J K. TRIPLETT SUN DIAL DEVICE` Filed June 8, 1948 Jan. 2, 1951 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 i lUNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE SUN DIAL DEVICE J Karrol Triplett, Chicago, Ill. Application June 8, 1948, Serial No. 31,729

This invention relates to a sun dial device, and more particularly to a bottle or other similar container having a sundial imprinted thereon and a pointer secured to the neck of the bottle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple sun dial device which indicates lapse of time with rough but adequate accuracy.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an expendable item embodying in a glass bottle a sun dial feature and which can, for example, be deposited on a beach and used there to indicate lapse of time, thus obviating the necessity of carrying e, watch which is apt to be damaged or lost.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pointer used in the device of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the device of the invention comprises a bottle l which, as shown, is preferably of flattened shape so as to present a, large and relatively fiat front surface 2. A paper label 3 is secured to the flat surface 2 of the bottle, such label having imprinted thereon a dial 4 described in detail hereinafter. The device is also provided with a pointer 5, also described in detail hereinafter, and with a cap 6 both mounted on the neck 1 of the bottle.

The label 3, as stated, may be a paper label and it may have imprinted thereon, below the dial 4, any suitable insignia or advertising matter (not shown). The dial 4 comprises a group of spaced radial lines 23 radiating outwardly from a common center, and in its preferred form a U-shaped vari-colored band 2| is also provided, adjacent segments 22 within the band being of different colors; for example, alternating black and white. There may also be imprinted upon the dial, as shown, suitable instructions 23 and, for further convenience, letters of the alphabet and indicia 24 indicating the time interval of each segment 22 may be provided.

Referring more particularly to Fig, 4, the pointer is cut away at 3B to provide a gap for mounting and dismounting the pointer on the neck of the bottle, the gap 3u being suitably rounded at 3| to provide a snug, close t with 5 Claims. (Cl. 33-61) the neck of the bottle. Preferably also, the gap 39 is notched inwardly on each side at 32, the notches 32 serving to align the pointer by engaging rib 33 formed in molding the bottle. The pointer 5 is provided with a V-shaoed portion 34 which is preferably cut away at 35 to provide a V-shaped opening. The pointer thus presents three sharp, V-shaped corners 3B, 31 and 38. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the effect of this configuration is to cast a shadow upon the dial at more or less the same point (at a given time of day) regardless of the latitude or season. This, of course, is only qualitatively true but nevertheless represents an advantageous feature of the device in that reading of the dial is facilitated.

As specifically illustrated in the drawings, the radial lines 2U are spaced approximately 'F1/2 degrees apart and correspond to time intervals of approximately thirty minutes. Obviously, however, a different spacing may be used, and in any event by trial and error the optimum spacing for a given set of requirements may be determined.

The device thus described is especially well adapted to the use with bottles of sun tan lotion and the like, which are commonly marketed in bottles of flattened shape indicated as preferable for purposes of this invention. The only modification of such a bottle that is required is the provision of labels having a dial imprinted thereon and the provision of a pointer. The pointer can be provided separately from the bottle, or it may be sold packaged with the bottle, or may even be secured thereto by engagement with the neck of the bottle. In the latter event, the pointer Will be turned from the position shown in the drawings, so as to directly overlie the bottle and thus take up as little space as possible.

It is thus apparent that a sun dial device has been provided which is very simple in design and is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, which is an expendable item and can be safely taken to a beach where a more expensive time indicator, such as a watch, might be lost or damaged, and which indicates the lapse of time with sufficient accuracy for the purpose of gauging the degree of exposure to the rays of the sun and thus preventing sunburn.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a receptacle, including a neck portion and a, body portion, a sun dial disposed on a face of the body portion and a pointer mounted upon the neck portion and extending therefrom at an angle to cast a shadow on said dial to indicate the passage of time.

2. A combined; receptacle and sun. dial2 comprising a bottlehaving a neck portion and a relatively flat body portion, a label aiiixed to a face of the body portion and having a sun dial imprinted thereon and a removable pointer mounted upon; the neck portion and extending therefrom at an angle to cast a shadow on said dial to, indicate:

said dial to indicate the passage of time., said pointer having a forward taperedA portion'I and' a base. portion cutaway tos-nug-ly :Ett` said neck portion andhaving opposing notches, formed the base portion to:` align withvand engage said mold ribs.`

4; The device of. claim 3, wherein saidk dial is provided with radial markings spaced to indicate approximately uniform increments of lapse of time.

5. A pointer adapted to be secured to the neck of a bottle to cast a shadow upon the side of the bottle, comprising a forward portion having converging sides and a rear portion provided with an opening adapted to seat against the neck of a bottle, said rearward portion being provided with aligned notches. adapted to,4 engage; opposite mold ribs on thex neck of a bottle;

J KARROL 'I'RIPLE'IT- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of' this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date 277,799 Smith May 15, 1883 flgfif" Iiienning A Jian. 19,1886 638,822 Bates- AugY 8, 1899 8,533,338; Bissell. May`1`4, 1907 1,359,890 Tanzey Aug. 24, 11920 l:,8:9-1,068 Stahl Dec. 13', 1932 2,949,034 Weisz Y July 28, 1936 FQREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date:

146,593. Great Britain. ...,n, July 7,192.0 

